We wanted to share this article with you from Zillow's affiliate, Porch.com
Pat and Linda Lichter
April 2, 2013
Before You Sell: 5 Must-Do Projects to Improve Your Home’s Value
The overall appearance of your home can make or break the sale to a potential buyer. Here are five must-do projects to increase the value before you sell.
you hope for a high selling price. For that to happen, your home needs to look appealing, and that may require some improvements to boost its value. The overall appearance of your home can make or break the sale to a potential buyer. Below are five must-do projects you can undertake to increase the value and appeal of your home.
1. Make necessary repairs
Plenty of homeowners make the mistake of trying to sell their home in “as-is” condition. Unless it’s in pristine shape, with everything working perfectly, this is not a good idea.
When potential buyers look at the place, they notice outdated wallpaper and old flooring. The more upgrades and repairs you make, the more likely the home will sell quickly. If a buyer does make an offer on the home “as-is,” he or she will usually ask for a lower price to compensate for the repairs that will have to be done after possession.
2. Repaint
The color on your interior walls can have a huge impact on the rooms’ appearance. This can work for you or against you. Paint colors are a personal preference, and no one really knows what a specific buyer will want.
It’s usually best to paint the walls a neutral color to be on the safe side. White is a nice reflecting color, and it tends to make rooms look bigger. A simple coat of paint will make the home appear clean and fresh.
Painting the exterior may take more time and effort, but it will rejuvenate a faded-looking home.
3. Update Your Décor
Potential buyers want to visualize themselves in your home when they come to see it. Replace any outdated or old pieces of décor with something more up to date.
That lava lamp you love may have great memories, but store it away and replace it with a modern lamp while selling your home. Replace your old curtains and wall hangings with new ones to give the home a fresh, modern look.
4. Replace old appliances
Before you sell your home, think about buying new appliances. While new appliances will cost some money, they will boost the value of your home.
5. Give your lawn a facelift
Not only should you improve the interior and exterior of the home, but you should spend some time on basic landscaping that will improve the front and back yards.
Simply trimming the bushes and trees or adding a nice flower bed will make everything more attractive. The key to effective landscaping is balance. Make sure your yard achieves a nice balance with your home.
A little work and minor changes can go a long way toward increasing your home’s value for a coming sale. The more improvements you make, the better your chances of selling the home for what you are asking.
Top image credit: Zivkovic Connolly Architects
No comments:
Post a Comment